Death of Martyrs, life of Nation

In celebration of the memory of those who laid their lives so that we

may live, this special day is a tribute to the indomitable will, stoic
courage and an overwhelming love of the nation that resonates in their
heart which leads to a secure and peaceful Pakistan for us to dwell in.
Deriving their military virtue from the true spirit of an Islamic ideology,
the Pakistan armed forces have always sacrificed their best of men in
keeping intact the sovereignty of the Motherland as its soil contains as
an unforgettable and primary constituent the blood of its martyrs who
have fearlessly confronted the enemy and crushed their nefarious
designs while guarding their land with their most precious possessions,
their lives.
History has seen how the soldiers of the Pak army have risen to their towering heights to defend
their borders, their land, their deserts, their fertile and rich plains, their water and resources
against severe enemy aggression as our heroes succeeded to stop the opponents not allowing
them to touch and advance on even an inch of the country, a duty that, the world witnesses,
they perform with a complete unwavering faith and courage while attaining immortality as it is
stated in the Quran "And do not call those who die in the way of Allah as "Dead", no they are
living, only you do not see them. (2:154). The arrival of coffins of our shuhadas received by
solemn faced colleagues , despite being wrapped in green and white stirring a sentiment of
pride and honor, shows the lifeless form of those who had once been the source of utter joy for
their loved ones and the vivacious presence of whom was for some, the only reason to be. The
immense sorrow displayed by the funeral prayers in muted silence, wreaths of eternally fragrant
flowers that accompany them as the comrades and fellow officers bid them the final farewell.
Life, unaffected by its grotesque and brutal realms goes on as the people progressively become
engrossed in the mundane, day to day rituals. Other sacrifices, however, are equally important
while less dramatic do not have a long term and such drastic after effects on the lives of those
involved.
No one can, in their pursuits stop and consider the anguish and mental torment endured by
the wives, children and parents of those who have been martyred or even the hundreds and
thousands of others who wonder everyday if their dear ones would be the next? Uttering a few
words of sympathy does not wash away the miseries as none can understand the full measure
of what they have been and are still suffering while fighting a never ending battle at the home
front as the smooth sailing life boat loses balance and becomes retarded. Millions of such
episodes have been witnessed and been forgotten as we move forward.

Here is the complete speech of General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani:

Todays evening is dedicated to our martyrs, veterans and soldiers
who remain steadfast and resolutely committed in the defence of our
sacred motherland. Regardless of the cost, our spirits are high and our
determination unwavering. The nefarious designs of our enemy, may it be
internal or external, will never succeed and we shall eventually prevail. I can
say this with complete confidence because I know that the blessings of
Almighty Allah and prayers of the entire Nation are with us. This realization
is indeed the source of our real strength, which affords us a distinct edge
and dominance over the enemy.
We are deeply indebted to the families of our martyrs, who made the
ultimate sacrifice in the cause of our freedom. We cannot repay their debt,
however, we profoundly acknowledge their courage and valour and pray to
the Almighty to honour their great sacrifice and to bless our motherland.
Last year, on this occasion, we were confronted with a great tragedy.
We had lost 140 of our gallant companions in an avalanche at Gayari. We
had vowed that come what may we would not rest till the very last body of
our martyrs is recovered. The search is still on in extremely rugged terrain;
13000 feet above sea level. By the grace of Almighty we have recovered
the remains of 125 of our companions and Allah willing we will soon
complete the task.
Pakistan is a great blessing for all of us. It is because of our beloved
motherland that we live in freedom as an independent Nation. We have
made enormous sacrifices for this freedom and we are prepared to
continue doing so, to preserve it. However, despite tremendous sacrifices,
the dream of our founding fathers under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam
and Alama Iqbal is yet to be realized. Perhaps, we have either not
discovered the correct path or have not remained steadfast in our journey.

Yet the spirit of sacrifice and resilience of our Nation remains undiminished.
I have no doubts, whatsoever, that we retain the ability to touch the heights
of glory. Hence, it is imperative that we do not let despair or disillusionment
afflict our resolve.
Allah willing, General Elections would be held in the country on
11th of May. We must not harbour any suspicions or misgivings about it. This
indeed is a golden opportunity, which can usher in an era of true
democratic values in the country. In my opinion, it is not merely retribution,
but awareness and participation of the masses that can truly end this game
of hide and seek between democracy and dictatorship. If we succeed in
rising above all ethnic, linguistic and sectarian biases to vote solely on the
basis of honesty, sincerity, merit and competence, there would be no
reason to fear dictatorship or to grudge the inadequacies of our present
democratic system. Our salvation resides in transforming the government
into a true platform of public representation. This would come to pass once
the construct of public representation in Pakistan is oriented towards
affording primacy and precedence to larger public interest over personal
interests. Otherwise, may it be democracy or dictatorship; governance
would continue to remain a means of self aggrandizement and that of
plundering national wealth and resources.
I assure you, that we stand committed to wholeheartedly assist and
support in the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections; to the best of our
capabilities and remaining within the confines of the Constitution. I also
assure you that this support shall solely be aimed at strengthening
democracy and rule of law in the country. Like every Pakistani, Pakistan
Army, in its humble capacity, has endeavoured to strengthen democracy in
the last five years, with the hope that the next elections would steer the
country towards betterment. Now, once the destination is in sight we must
not err in accomplishing our responsibilities towards the election process.

We must never forget that success of any system resides in coming up to

the aspirations of the masses. The success of democracy is intimately
linked with the wellbeing and prosperity of the Nation. The real virtue of
democracy ultimately lies in the safety and welfare of the masses.
The conduct of General Elections is not an end per se, but is surely
an important means towards delivering us from our present sufferings. To
bring an end to our tribulations, it is also imperative to foster a profound
understanding of our national ethos and aspirations. The General Elections
will provide us the foundation. To build on this foundation, we would have to
find answers to many questions; war against terrorism being one of these
questions.
The menace of terrorism and extremism has claimed thousands of
lives, including those of the Army, Rangers, FC, Police, Frontier
Constabulary, Levies and innocent people of Pakistan. If we include the
injured and affected family members of the martyrs, the numbers increase
manifold. Our external enemies are busy in igniting the flames of this fire.
However, despite all this bloodshed, certain quarters still want to remain
embroiled in the debate concerning the causes of this war and who
imposed it on us. While this may be important in itself but the fact of the
matter is that today it is Pakistan and its valiant people who are a target of
this war and are suffering tremendously. I would like to ask all those who
raise such questions that if a small faction wants to enforce its distorted
ideology over the entire Nation by taking up arms and for this purpose
defies the Constitution of Pakistan and the democratic process and
considers all forms of bloodshed justified, then, does the fight against this
enemy of the state constitute someone elses war? Even in the history of
the best evolved democratic states, treason or seditious uprisings against
the state have never been tolerated and in such struggles their armed
forces have had unflinching support of the masses; questions about the

ownership of such wars have never been raised. We cannot afford to

confuse our soldiers and weaken their resolve with such misgivings. Every
drop of blood, shed in the national cause, is sacred and no one can better
understand its value than the families who are present here today; because
their dear ones have already made the ultimate sacrifice. We must not hurt
the sentiments of these saviours of the Nation through our words and
deeds.
We sincerely desire that all those who have strayed and have picked
up arms against the Nation, return to the national fold. However, this is only
possible once they unconditionally submit to the State, its Constitution and
the Rule of Law. There is no room for doubts when it comes to dealing with
rebellion against the state. Towards this end, while truly acknowledging the
national aspirations and value of our martyrs blood, we as a Nation need to
forge consensus towards evolving a clear policy through mutual
consultations. Considering this war against terrorism as the war of the
armed forces alone can lead to chaos and disarray that we cannot afford.
In line with the spirit of this occasion, alongside Pakistan Army I
would like to express my profound appreciation for FC, Rangers, Police,
Frontier Constabulary and Levies, who have sacrificed tremendously in the
struggle against terrorism and extremism and have kept the flag of Pakistan
fluttering high. However, the biggest sacrifice has been rendered by the
people of Pakistan, whose steadfastness and support is a source of
immense strength for the Armed Forces of Pakistan. I salute the spirit of
patriotism of the entire Nation.
Martyrdom is a great honour and fortunate are those who are
blessed with it. We all sincerely pray for the families of the Shuhada. May
Allah grant them strength and fortitude! Ameen!
Yaum-e-Shuhada is being observed throughout Pakistan. The
purpose of observing this day is that we as a nation renew our resolve to

never forget the sacrifices of ourShuhada. Their blood is sacred and a

source of pride for Pakistan Army and the Nation. We would never let their
sacrifice go waste.
May Allah be our protector and guide! Ameen!
Pakistan Army Zindabaad!
Pakistan Paindabad